How Long Does it Take to Replace a Roof?

One of the main questions clients ask about their roof replacement is, “How long will it take?” Well, the answer to that question isn’t exact, it’s based on a number of factors. 

The team at W&W Roofing has been replacing roofs in the Northwest Arkansas area for over 30 years. We know what it takes to replace your roof in a timely manner while maintaining the high-quality workmanship we’re known for. Always willing to educate the public on anything in the art of roofing, I’m going to break down how long it could take for your roof replacement. 

A roof replacement can take anywhere from a day to a few days based on a number of factors. By the end of this article, you’ll know how long it’ll take and how a roofing contractor determines the timeline for your roof replacement. 

How long does it take to replace your roof?

Before we get into how a contractor determines how long it’ll take to replace your roof, I want to go ahead and tell you how long a roof replacement can take. Remember every roof is different so the timeline for every replacement is going to be different. 

In general, the roof of an average residence (3,000 square feet or less) can be replaced in a day. In extreme cases, it could take three to five days. Depending on the weather, complexity, and accessibility of your home it could even take up to three weeks. But unless it’s a large home, a roof can typically be replaced in a day. 

What determines how long your roof replacement will take?

Now that you know how long a roof replacement can take, you need to know how roof accessibility, complexity, weather, and the time of year affect the timeline. These factors play a major role in the timeline for your roof replacement. 

The complexity of your roof

The complexity of a roof is how it’s cut up with the number of facets, angles, hips, valleys, and its pitch. These not only affect how long it’ll take but also the cost of your roof replacement.

A roof that is cut up with a high number of facets at multiple angles, hips, valleys, and a steep pitch is more difficult and takes a lot longer to replace than a simple roof with only two or four roof facets. 

Safety precautions the contractor has to take also go into the complexity of a roof. The higher off the ground the installers are, the more precautions they have to take. For their own safety, they have to move slower and more carefully which leads to your roof replacement taking longer.

The more complex the roof, the more time a contractor needs to install a quality roof. A simple roof may take a day while a more complex roof may take 3 days to replace.

The accessibility of your roof

Roof accessibility is simply the ability for your contractor to access your roof. The reason access is important to your roof replacement is for tearing off the old roof, getting the torn off materials into the dump truck, and then getting the new materials back up to the roof for installation. 

What makes your roof hard to access? 

• Landscaping or rows of bushes around your house
• A fence
• No paved surface near the roof access point 

A home with rows of bushes, a fence, and no paved surface near the access point will take longer for a roof replacement than a home with a roof that has easy access. 

The less time your installer spends on your roof installing shingles the longer your roof replacement takes. This time adds up and could push back the timeline by a few hours or even a day. 

The weather on the day of your roof replacement 

A roof has to be replaced in the right conditions. It can’t be replaced in the rain, snow, freezing temperatures, or when it’s too hot.

If your roof is replaced in any of these conditions I can guarantee it’s not going to be properly installed. The weather affects both how long it’ll take to replace your roof and when you can replace it. If you see rain in the forecast your roof replacement is going to be pushed back until your roof is dry enough to work on. 

For example, if it rains the day of your roof replacement, it will have to be rescheduled until it’s dryer out. If it rains during the replacement, they’ll tarp your roof to protect your home and pick up where they left off next time it’s dry enough to be on it. Inclement weather stretches the replacement process out a little bit longer. 

Time of year you get your roof replaced

More production gets done when it stays lighter outside longer once we spring forward after winter. That’s one of the reasons why March really starts ramping the year up for roofing contractors. 

Because roofers don’t usually work in the dark, the extra hours of production allow for installers to spend more time on your roof. This leads to your complex roof replacement potentially being completed sooner. 

The opposite happens during the winter months. When the sun sets earlier it means less production. If you get your roof replaced during this time it could take an extra day to complete the process.

A quick roof replacement isn’t always better

I’ve seen some roof replacements that cannot be done in a single day. Be warned that some companies come in and promise that they can do it in a day. 

When this happens, you’ll have a large number of installers on your roof and shingles flying everywhere: it’s mayhem. There won’t be enough time to do a proper cleanup and I can guarantee the roof isn’t going to be installed properly. 

In the roofing world, you shouldn’t choose speed over quality. 

When you choose speed over quality, it’s not a matter of if your new roof will leak, but when. If a contractor only cares more about getting the job done quicker, there’s going to be corners cut and it’s going to show in the end product of your roof replacement. 

The local contractor you hire should get the job done in a timely manner while still maintaining the quality you expect when you invest in a roof replacement.

What does the replacement process look like?

Now that you know how long it’s going to take, you need to learn what the day of your roof replacement looks like. This ensures you’re ready for the big day and you can have a stress-free experience. 

Luckily, we wrote another article on the actual roof replacement process. From the materials being delivered your home to cleaning up your property, you’ll be ready for the big day. 

W&W Roofing has been offering high-quality roof replacements to the residents of Northwest Arkansas for over 30 years. We work with you to get your replacement done as soon as possible while still giving you the quality that’s expected.